History and Medical Aspects of Students with Learning Disabilities

• Special Education terminology• Reauthorization of IDEIA• Organizations and practicing theories

• Brain functioning• Unknown causes• Attempted therapies (quick fixes)• Recent medical findings

Warm-up Activity

• Is there any single cause to a LD?• What are some examples of prenatal, perinatal,

and postnatal causes? • Name a few results from brain research on

students with LD.• What are some aspects to different disorders?

– Spoken language; written language; perceptual/motor

• Explain the chronology of the term learning disabilities. Were the earlier thoughts incorrect?

• What have been the outcomes of most LD treatments?

Special Education terminology

• LD; ID; EBD; ASD• ADD or ADHD• IEP• IFSP; 504 plans• LRE; REI• IDEA and IDEIA• EHA and ADA• Explicit, systematic and

direct, teacher-directed• Others?

IDEA 1997

• Adding to PL 94- 142 and IDEA 1990

• IEP – includes the general education teacher and increases the

emphasis on the parent as a member– Requires an annual review– Emphasizes the general education curriculum first

• Transitional IEP– Established by age 16– Statement needed by age 14

IDEA 1997 changes

• Discipline– Manifestation determination

• If not manifested by the disability then removal from placement cannot exceed 10 days

– Functional behavioral assessment• Required when a child has been removed more than 10 days

– Positive behavior intervention plan• Must be based on the FBA and teach replacement behaviors

– Interim Alternative Educational Setting• Up to 45 days; services and curriculum must match IEP

needs; inappropriate behavior must be addressed

2004 IDEiA information

• IEPs• Who comprises an IEP team• Assessment - from discrepancy to RtI?• Research-based v research-supported

instruction• Clarified 45 school days for removal in

disciplinary situations• and more… (see

http://www.pde.state.pa.us/special_edu/cwp/view.asp?a=177&q=112563)

Organizations

• CEC • CLD • DLD • LDA• ADA• Journals of interest: Remedial and Special Education; LD:

Research and Practice; Exceptional Children; Journal of LD; Intervention in School and Clinic; Teaching Exceptional Children; Preventing School Failure; Phi Delta Kappan; Journal of Special Education Leadership; Journal of Special Education Technology

Practicing Theories

• Heterogeneity and Assessment• Preschool and Post-secondary services• Teaching practices• REI to inclusion• Collaboration and Professional Services• Technology

Brain Research and Neuropsychology

• MRI- magnetic resonance imaging shows size, shape, and location of brain structures

• fMRI- functional magnetic resonance imaging shows brain activity while people complete complex tasks

• PET- positron emission tomography measures metabolism with the brain thus determining glucose in the brain of a child with hyperactivity

Medical Aspects: Brain functions

• Correlational data• Wernicke’s and Broca’s

areas• Motor development• Memory• Stimulations and

stimulants

• http://www.articlesforeducators.com/dir/learning_disabilities/understanding_the_brain.asp

Recent medical findings

• Poor readers share the same inactivity areas in the brain while reading difficult passages.

• Behavior has much to do with inputs and how brain processes reality.

• Neuron wiring changes with knowledge

Results on dyslexia

• Left parietal sulci emits lower energy for low memory

• Planum temporale is symmetric in dyslexic readers• Frontal regions of the brain are more symmetric

and smaller than other people’s• Good readers use the front and back of their brains

for phonological processing while students with dyslexia use only the front

• We need to teach using strategies effective at developing activity essential to parts of the brain (ie., connect sounds and symbols)

Beware “According to brain research in mathematics”

• According to the National Math Panel (2008), “…attempts to connect research in the brain sciences to classroom teaching and students learning in mathematics are premature” (p. 4-111)

• We have learned about general learning but the details are not specific enough to make sweeping changes.

Medical Needs of Children

• The physical needs of children must be met before learning can be optimized

• Aside from brain development and wiring concerns, what other medical factors affect learning?– Hearing– Vision– Psychological

“Quick fixes”

• Pros and Cons of Ritalin; Cylert; Dexedrine (p.228-229)

• Megavitamin• Feingold diet• Tinted lenses• Perceptual training• D.O.R.E.• Scare and boot camp techniques

Where to go for more information..

• Brain research – Lyon; Shaywitz• Legal changes – National Information Center for

Children and Youth with Disabilities; LDOnline• Technology – Evers• Inclusion – Everington; Giangreco

• Any others???

Summary

• Why study instructional methods meant for students with learning disabilities?

• What do we know about the medical aspects of people with dyslexia?

• What behavioral aspects are explained in IDEA 1997 and 2004?

• How do some of the contemporary practices in special education affect students with learning disabilities?